Portman would be smart choice

The names already are being floated: Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Marco Rubio of Florida; Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey; and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

The names already are being floated: Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Marco Rubio of Florida; Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey; and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

And, trust me, there will be more.

All are mentioned as potential vice presidential running mates for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has emerged as the likely Republican presidential nominee.

Romney will be tugged in two separate directions, depending on whom he is listening to. One group will say: Get someone flashy who will capture the attention of the voters. The other group will say: No, Mitt, go with someone who is safe and sensible.

If history is any guide, safe and sensible often is better than razzle-dazzle and flashy.

In 2000, Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush and Democratic nominee Al Gore went safe and sensible when they selected former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut as their running mates.

Neither Cheney nor Lieberman were decisive factors in the outcome of the race. But with rare exceptions — Lyndon Johnson in 1960 quickly comes to mind — few vice presidential candidates help a ticket. The key is to find someone who won’t cost votes.

“The No. 1 qualification is somebody that doesn’t hurt the campaign,” said Curt Steiner, a Republican consultant in Ohio.

Cheney and Lieberman did exactly that. They had a safe and sensible debate in Louisville. Both demonstrated they had the ability to handle the presidency. By November, both were afterthoughts as voters focused on Bush and Gore.

All too often, candidates with pizazz end up causing aggravation. In 2008, Republican presidential nominee John McCain turned to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, hoping she would ignite enthusiasm from social conservatives and women.

Well, Palin did ignite passion. What she did not do was display a sure grasp of weighty national issues, prompting a famous Saturday Night Live skit in which Tina Fey skewered Palin with the line, “I can see Russia from my house.”

Other game-changers also have been catastrophic candidates. In 1988, Republican nominee George H.W. Bush, who wanted to add youth to his ticket, stunned his closest advisers by selecting Sen. Dan Quayle of Indiana. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry turned to former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who failed to deliver his home state or any other Southern state.

This year, the razzle-dazzle choice is Rubio. He is conservative, youthful, a dynamic speaker and would help Republicans with Hispanic voters. But critics warn that until last year, much of his record was as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

By contrast, Portman is the safe and sensible choice. He has the right resume: graduate of Dartmouth College; law degree from the University of Michigan; congressman from Cincinnati for 12 years; U.S. trade representative and White House budget director under George W. Bush, and member of the Senate. He would have no difficulty convincing voters he could handle the presidency in the event of an emergency.

Even though he is conservative, Portman’s choirboy style does not alienate voters. He is a skilled fundraiser, works hard and would be a formidable debater against Vice President Joe Biden. When Cheney practiced for his debate against Lieberman, Portman played the role of the Connecticut senator.

There are downsides to Portman. He is relatively unknown to Americans. Although few people realize it, he can show a thin skin when criticized. And nobody would suggest he is charismatic.

“He makes an attractive option when somebody that you can argue is the most qualified person available also comes from a major swing state,” said Steiner, who worked on Portman’s first congressional campaign. “He is just a highly qualified person.”

Jack Torry is chief of the Dispatch Washington bureau.

jtorry@dispatch.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.